Illuminated sign.



No. 674,798. Patented May 2|, I90I. F. E. SMITH & F. C. WATSON.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application led Jau. 2]., 1901.)

u (No Model.)

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No. 674,798. Patented May 2l, lem.

F. E. SMITH & F. c.`wATsoN.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application led Jan. 21, 1901.) (Nn Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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FRANK E. SMITH AND FRANK O. WATSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,798, dated IYIay 21, 1901. Application filed January 21, 1901` Serial No. 44,076. (No modela To all 107210717/ t Hefty concern.:

Be it known that we, FRANK E. SMITH and FRANK C. WATSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to illuminated signs, the advantages and construction of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of the sign complete; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l l of Fig. l; Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4, an end View of the signholder proper; Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of 6; Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional View of a portion of the apparatus, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a vertical sectional view of the operatinghandle and indicator, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8; Fig. 8, abottom plan view of the handle and indicator carried thereby, the bail of the handle being broken away; and Fig. 9, a plan View showing a detail of construction.

One object of our invention is to provide a simple and efficient illuminated sign wherein the name-carrying frame or holder may be readily rotated andthe degree of rotation de termined by the movement of an operating handle or lever.

A further object is to provide means operating in connection with the handle whereby the particular name displayed will likewise be indicated to the attendant or operator moving the handle.

Other advantages will appear in the following description.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a portion of a car-frame upon which are secured fittings or castings B, to which in turn are attached the heads O of the shell or casing, the body D of the shell being preferably formed of sheet metal secured to the heads in any suitable manner.

As will be noted upon reference to Figs. l, 3, and 5, the forward portion of the shell or casing is open, and it is through this opening that the sign being exposed is viewed. Each head is provided with inwardly-extending flanges E, which form a channel or way'F, extending from the forward face of the holder toward the rear thereof, these channels or ways being at right angles to the opening formed or left in the forward or front face of the casing. Said channels form guides into which are inserted slides G G', the outer ends of which, as will be seen upon reference to Figs. l and 2, stand at right angles to the body of the slides and extend out beyond the heads of the casing, forming handles II. Slide G carries a stud or axle I, whilethe opposite slide G has secured to it a hollow stem o'r tube J, said tube being supported at its inner end by a bracket K. Said tube constitutes a support for a socket L, to which is connected a lamp M. A reflector N extends around one side of the lamp and is so positioned with relation to the opening in the forward portion of the easing as to prevent the rays of light from passing directly through the exposed sign. The light is thereby reflected back into the casing or against the opposite sign, whence it is diffused through the forward sign, making the illumination even throughout-a point of material advantage.

Journaled upon the stud I and the hollow post or tube J is a sign-holder comprising heads O O, connected together by U-shaped strips P and plates or strpsQ. Into the guides formed by said U-shaped strips are insei-ted the signs R, the signs being removable therefrom by simply sliding them endwise when the sign-holder proper is Withdrawn from the shell or casing. Suitable Wires extend out through the tube J from the lamp M and are connected to contact-buttons S, mounted upon an insulated block T, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) the blocks being carried by the slide or support G. Wires U, Fig. 5, passing up through a hollow stem or post formed in the brackets or supports B, extend to spring contact-arms V, which are mounted upon an insulated block W, secured in the guideway F. From this it will be seen that as the sign-holder proper is pushedinto place through the opening in the forward portion of the shell or casing the spring-arms V will come into contact with the buttons S and com- IOO plete the circuit through the wires to the lamp.

Normally one of the signs R will stand in a vertical position opposite the opening in the front of the shell or casing. It is of course necessary to provide some means for rotating the sign-holder in order to bring any one of the signs to view. To accomplish this, we have provided a handle or operating mechanism which not only rotates the sign-holder,

but likewise indicates to the operator the particular sign brought to view. This does away of course with the necessity of the operator or car attendant leaving the car and walking around in front of the same to ascertain whether or not the intended sign is in place. The mechanism provided also prevents the sign-holder from being left in a position where two signs will be partially brought to view.

In one of the heads of the outer shell or casing there is formed, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Figs. 5 and 6, a Way or channel a, in which is mounted a slide b, the slide carrying at its upper end a dog or detent c, pressed inwardly toward the head O of the sign-holder by a spring d. The head O, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 6, is provided with openings or slots e, into Lwhich the nose of the dog is projected when the nose comes into alinement with one of the slots or openings e. Said openings or slots are so formed in the head of the sign-holder that when the lever or slide b is in its elevated position the dog or detent will pass into one of said slots and one of the signs will stand in a vertical position in front of the opening in the shell or casing.

To the lower end ot the slide is connected a rod f, which passes through an opening g, formed in a plate h, Fig. 9. To the lower end of the rod f there is connected a handle i, which has journaled in its upper portion between its side members a barrelj, Figs.7and 8. Said barrel is provided with means for the reception of four index plates or slides awhich carry names or numbers corresponding to the signs in the sign-holder. The shaft of the barrel is likewise provided with a star-wheel l, which, acting in conjunction with a spring m, serves to normally hold. the barrel against rotation. The barrel being journaled in the handle moves up and down therewith, and to provide for the rotation of the barrel to correspond with the movement of the sign-holder there is pivotally connected to the plate h an elbow-lever n. That arm of the lever which lies between the handle and the plate h is normally pressed down by a spring o, Fig. '7, and tends to rock said lever over into the position shown in dotted lines in said ligure. To hold the elbow-lever over into the position shown in Fig. 7, wherein it will be seen that its nose p is in line with one of the project-ions on the star-wheel, there is employed a second spring q, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, the end of which normally stands to one side of the elbow-lever and bears against the same when the handle and its barrel are in an elevated position. Vhen, however, the handle is drawn down, the end of the spring g will pass out of contact with the downwardly-extending arm of the elbow-lever n, and as soon as this takes place spring 0 will rock said lever over into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. '7. As the handle is returned after having moved the sign and also having rotated the barrel or index by reason of the star-wheel contacting with the nose p, the end of the spring q will pass up into a groove or channel r formed in the lever and hold the nose of said lever out of Contact with the star-wheel. Consequently no movement of the star-wheel or index-barrel will take place upon an upward or return movement of the operating-handle. When, however, the handle is in its highest position and the dog or detent has passed into another of the openings e, the spring q will be sprung or forced out of the way or channel r in the lever and again move back thereotinto the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the lever being moved over into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, bringing the nosep to position where it will engage the star-wheel and again rotate the index or barrel when the lever is drawn down.

While we have shown the sign-holder as being operated by a rod passing down through the framing of the car, or, in other words, with an operating-rod in a vertical position, it will readily be seen that the device may be operated with a rod extending in rear of the casing, and for this reason the head is provided with a way or channel F', Figs. 3 and 5, in which the operating-slide may be mounted. Of course the shell or casing would have to be provided with an opening in line with this way or channel.

A'suitable rod or bar F2, Figs. l and 3, extends across the front of the sign at the upper portion thereof to form a guard against which the trolley-rope may work where the signs are employed with the overhead-trolley system.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the sign-holder proper may be readily withdrawn from the casing and a new signholder substituted therefor. It will also be seen that for each downward stroke ormovement of the operating-handle the index will be moved to correspond with the movement ofthe sign-holder proper,thus enabling the attendant to know exactly whatsign is exposed.

While the sign holder is shown and described as containing four signs, or, in other words, as rectangular in cross-sections, it is manifest that it may be made with as many signs as desired, the size of the opening in the front of the casing being varied to correspond and the length of movement of the lever likewise changed. The index will of course be provided with as many name-plates as there are signs in the holder.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim isl. In combination with a shell or casing IOO IIO

having a sign-exposing opening formed in one side thereof, a sign-holder revolubly mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom through said opening; means for rotating said holder within the casing to bring the signs in alinement with the opening; and electric contacts carried by said casing and signholder.

2. In combination With a shell or casing having Ways or channels formed therein in line with a sign-exposing opening in one side of t-he casing for exposing a sign to View; a sign-holder readily removable from the casing through said opening; means pivotally connected to said holder, arranged to enter the ways and to maintain the sign-holder in place within the casing, and to permit rotation thereof when in place; and means for rotating the sign-holder.

3. In combination With a shell or casing having a sign-exposing opening at one side thereof, Ways or channels formed upon the inner faces of the end Walls thereof in line with said opening; slides G, G; a sign-holder rotatably mounted upon said slides and readily removable through said sign-exposing opening; an electric lamp mounted Within said sign-holder; contacts carried by said holder and the shell or casing, arranged when the parts are in position, to close the circuit to said lamp; and means for rotating said signholder.

4. In combination With a shell or casing having a sign-exposing opening formed therein; a sign-holder rotatably mounted within said shell or casing and readily removable therefrom through said opening; means for rotating said sign-holder to bring one or anotherof the signs in line with the openingin the shell or casing; and an index exposing one name only to the View of the operator, said index being directly carried by and working in conjunction with the means for rotating the sign-holder, whereby the sign exposed is indicated.

5. In combination With a shell or casing having a sign-exposing opening formed therein, a rotatable sign-holder mounted Within said casing and readily removable therefrom through said opening; an operating-slide arranged to rotate said sign-holder as the slide is moved in one direction, and to permit the sign-holder to remain stationary as the slide is moved in the opposite direction; and a rotary index carried and operated by the slide when said slide is moved to rot-ate the signholder.

(5. In combination with a shell or casing having a sign-exposing opening formed therein; a rotatable sign-holder mounted Within said shell and readily removable therefrom through said opening; a slide arranged to r0- tate said sign-holder as said slide moves in one direction; an index working in conjunction with said slide as it is moved to rotate the holder; and means for throwing the index ont of operation as the slide is moved back to its normal position.

7. In combination with a shell or casing, a sign-holder rotatably mounted therein and having openings formed in one end thereof; a slide mounted and Working Within the shell or casing; a dog or detent arranged to enter the openings in the sign-holder; a handle connected to said slide; an index carried by said handle; and means for throwing said index out of operation as the slide is returned to its normal position after having actuated the sign-holder.

8. In combination with a rotatable signholder, a slide for operating the same; a dog or detent carried by said slide and adapted to engage the sign-holder to rotate it in one direction; a handle connected to said slide; a rotatable index carried by said handle; means for rotating said index as the slide is operated to rotate the sign-holder; and means for holding the index out of operation as the slide is returned to its normal position.

9. In combination with a rotatable signholder, a slide for actuating the same; a handle connected to said slide; an index-barrel rotatably mounted within said handle; a star- Wheel carried by said barrel; an elbow-lever pivoted to a tixed portion of the apparatus; and having one arm thereof in operative relation with the star- Wheel as the slide is moved to actuate the sign-holder; and means for holding said lever out of the path of the star-Wheel as the slide is returned to its normal position.

10. In combination with a rotatable signholder, a slide for operating the same; a handle connected to said slide; an index-barrel rotatably mounted within said handle; a starwheel connected to said barrel; a lever 'n pivotally connected to a fixed portion of the device, a spring o serving to tip or tilt said lever; and a spring q connected to the handle, arranged to normally hold one arm of the lever in operative relation with the star-Wheel when the handle is drawn doWn to actuate the slide and to hold said lever out of operative relation With the star-Wheel when the handle is moved in the reverse direction.

11. In combination With a shell or casing; a sign-holder rotatably mounted therein; an

actuating-handle for said sign-holder; and an.

index rotatably mounted on said handle, said index being actuated by the movement of the handle to bring to the view of the operator a single notation corresponding to the particular sign being exposed.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK E. SMITH. FRANK C. WATSON.

Witnesses:

WM. R. BRooxs, HARRISON SOUDER.

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